What is causing your irregular period

A woman's body prepares itself for pregnancy every month. During this time, one of your ovaries releases an egg into the fallopian tube, where it waits to be fertilized by healthy sperm. 

However, when fertilization does not occur, the lining of the uterus sheds. This is called menstruation or a period, and this process repeats every month, usually every 28 days. 

Nevertheless, many women experience irregular periods, which, in most cases, do not indicate a serious problem. It is important to understand what causes this and when to seek medical advice. 

 What are irregular periods? 

If the intervals between your menstrual cycles vary, you may have irregular periods. While it is normal for periods to be a little early or late, certain symptoms indicate when it is important to consult a gynecologist. 

Those symptoms are: 

1. You are under 45 years old, and your periods have suddenly become irregular.  
2. The interval between your menstrual cycles is often less than 21 days or more than 35 days. 
3. Excessive bleeding during your periods. 
4. Periods that last longer than seven days. 
5. You are unable to conceive due to irregular periods. 

Causes of Irregular Periods 

There are many causes of irregular periods, including: 

1. Natural hormonal changes 
2. Birth control 
3. Underlying health conditions 

Let’s understand each one. 

1. Natural Hormonal Changes 

Irregular periods can occur due to natural hormonal changes. The main hormones controlling your menstrual cycle are follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), progesterone, and estrogen. 

Disruption in the normal rise and fall of these hormones can cause irregular periods. 

Factors that can change hormone levels include: 

1. Stress 
2. Extreme weight gain or weight loss 
3. Early pregnancy: a common pregnancy test will confirm this 
4. Menopause 
5. Excessive exercise 

Irregular periods during adolescence are common and normal when the body undergoes many changes. During these years, periods can be longer and irregular. It may take several years for them to become shorter and regular. 

Additionally, after childbirth, your periods may become irregular as it takes some time for your hormones to return to normal. Breastfeeding, in particular, is associated with suppressed ovulation. 

When frequent breastfeeding causes your period to stop, it is called lactational amenorrhea. This usually lasts from three to six months or longer. Another natural cause of irregular periods is perimenopause. 

In most women, perimenopause lasts from four to seven years before their menopause, meaning their menstrual cycle completely stops. During this stage, levels of estrogen and progesterone continue to decline. 

2. Birth Control 

One of the causes of irregular periods is oral contraceptives. They prevent pregnancy by reducing or stopping ovulation. If you use birth control, you will not have a true period. In fact, you may not have a period at all. 

During birth control, you may experience withdrawal bleeding. However, this should not be mistaken for menstruation. Your hormonal levels decrease, triggering this, and when it happens, some mucus and blood flow from your uterine lining through the vagina. 

Other forms of birth control, including intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUD), vaginal rings, and birth control patches, can also cause withdrawal bleeding. 

Withdrawal bleeding usually lasts for a few days or weeks. It is different for each woman. Over time, it becomes more regular or stops entirely. 

Similarly, after stopping birth control, you may have irregular periods. Typically, women experience withdrawal bleeding for two to four weeks before resuming menstruation. 

However, it can take three to four months to become regular. 

 3. Underlying Health Conditions 

Sometimes, irregular periods indicate an underlying health condition, such as: 

1. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): The formation of fluid-filled sacs in the ovaries causes this chronic condition, and irregular periods are one of the symptoms. 
2. Eating Disorders: Some eating disorders like binge eating, anorexia, and bulimia nervosa can cause irregular or absent periods. 
3. Thyroid Disease: Both hyperthyroidism (excessive thyroid hormone) and hypothyroidism (insufficient thyroid hormone) are associated with irregular periods; it can also make the flow very light or heavy. 
4. Premature Ovarian Failure (POF): When the ovaries stop releasing eggs before the age of 40, it may be due to premature ovarian failure; it causes women to have irregular periods or early menopause. 
5. Hyperprolactinemia: Excessive levels of the protein prolactin are known as hyperprolactinemia, which is a cause of irregular periods. 

Other conditions, such as type 1 diabetes and congenital adrenal hyperplasia (a disorder of the adrenal gland), can also make periods irregular.